THE eThekwini Municipality Environmental Health Unit in partnership with the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have embarked on a rabies vaccination campaign after an outbreak in KwaZulu-Natal.
eThekwini Municipality spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela said the campaign is aimed at alerting people about the risks of rabies and the importance of getting their pets vaccinated to prevent a rabies outbreak.
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Tanya Fleischer, marketing manager for the Durban and Coast SPCA said rabies is extremely fatal.
“It is vitally important to vaccinate your pet against rabies annually. Rabies is preventable – not curable – ensure your pets are receiving their rabies vaccination annually. The first vaccination is at three months old, and every 12 months thereafter,” she said.
Currently, the municipality’s campaign is based in Umlazi following the discovery of positive rabies cases in the area.
The awareness and vaccination drive resumed this week and will go on until the end of September.
Rabbies can spread through the saliva of an infected animal and vaccination is the only protection pet owners can give their pets, said Fleischer.
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“The virus occurs in great numbers in the saliva of rabid animals so never touch a strange, injured or sickly looking animal. Please ensure your pets are vaccinated and are kept on your property,” she added.
Pet owners can get vaccinations done at the Durban and Coast SPCA. Contact the clinic for pricing and to make an appointment on 031 579 6512, alternatively the state vet offers free vaccinations- for more information, call 031 328 9300.
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At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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